Circuit maker and breaker



July 2, 1929.

E. A. MEYER CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed May 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @figg/[ at'ented July 2, 1929.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL A. 111121561512, or SPRINGFIELD. 01am. ASSIGNOR. BY MESH-E essIsNMENT-s, `To

BOBBIN-s. cmYnRs. .0F SBMNGIIELD, OHIO, A eonronarmn or ogm.

.CLEC-ULT AND.

Application led May 24,

This invention relates to a circuit maker and breaker of the type which employs an auxiliary shunt having arcing contacts which open later than the main contacts.

The object of my invention is to `provide for a quick break of the shunt contacts-g a more specific object in this connection-being to provide an arrangement in which both contacts of the shunt are movable, 'with one of the contacts movable sidewiseto bend and break the arc.

In the accompanying dnawings:

Fig. 1 is a side leleva-tion oi a switch embqdying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is-a top pian-*view of a portion of the same.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the device partly broken away and shown in section.

Referring .to the drawings, 1 represents a base .of insulating material upon which the 1' partsA are' mounted. The main stationary contact isl indicated at 2 Vand the movable contact at 13. The stationary contact is in the `form of an 'inclined plate, bent to form afoot 2 which is' securedl to the base. The movable Contact member 3 is formed of a ser-ies of spring members which are secured to'alever' pivotal'ly mounted at the upper cn'dsof sta'ndardsi which are secured to the base 1'. coil springfastened at one end to thearm 4" of the lever and at the other end' to tliebase tends' normally to hold the main switch member. in the open position shown in Fig. 1', a stop 7 cooperating with the free end of the lever4 .to limit itsopening movement. One of the arcing contacts isshoW-n at .8, this Contact 'being mounted on the free end of a spring .3 which forms one of the `series of springs 3 of the main contact member: but is extended outwardly beyond the free end of the same. 'The other arcing Contact is shown a't 9, this Contact being mounted on the end of an arm ,10 Yfixed to a shaft 11 mounted to rotate in brackets '12, supperted on .the foot 2.

Means are provided for rotating the shaft 1927. serial No. 193,907.

11 upon each opening and closingmove'- ment of the main' contact 3 so that whenthe mains-witch is in the openposition shown 1n Fig, .1 the Contact 9 will he rocked to theposition shown in full lines in that Afigure while when the m'ain switch is inthe clsed position shown in Fig. 2--the arcing contacts 8 and -9 will also be in closed position as shown in that figure with the npper'end of the contact plate 2 acting as a stop for the arcmg contact 9. VThe lever 4: which carries the main movable contact is connected with a shaft 13 which is mounted to rotate in the brackets 5. -Connected to one end of this shaft 113 is an arm 14 to the'free end of which Lis connected a ,linkl through the medlum of a coil spring 16, the link' 1.5 being preferably providedv with a socket which -houses the spring as shown in Fig. 5. The link 15 has connected to one end thereof a Ysecond llinklffthe other eildwof vvhlch- 1s pivot-ally connected' with an eccentric pin 18 projecting lateally'from a disk 1 9 which is `fmQ`untedto ro-tateon a studQQ supported by-one ofthe brackets 12. 'The disk 19 has a. gear segment-21 meshing with the pinion 22 'fast to lthe-shaft 11. i 7 g The operation' is as follows: When the main switch members are closed by opeii'ating the lever 4, or otherwise, rckingof the shaft 13 rocks the arm 14, which, through4 the connections described, rocks the shaft 11 so las to swing the VarmlO and its' contact '9 to ah positlon in line with' the Contact 8, theupper portion o f the inclined stationary ,Contact 2 'acting as a stop for thecontact 9."'1he arcing contacts v8 and 9 then close and make the oircuit prior to thej. main contacts, the spring connection l'with the arm lill-'allowing for a further movement of the lever 4 and mffl contact 3 to close the circuit through the main 'i contacts, the spring arcing Contact member .3 yielding to allow'for this additional movement. A`When the lever 4 is released, the spring 6 acts t0 open the circuit byA rocking the lever to the position shown in l, and when this movement of the lever. tajkes place the .Circuit is. first b rokenthrough Athe mam contacts by reason of the fact that the arm Q14 must movea limited .distance before it strikeS the end of the link 15. When the arm 14 engages the link 15 the shaft 11 is rockedlin the opposite direction and the arm 10 and its arcing Contact 9 swings sidewise. At the same time the free end of the main Contact 3 engages the outer end of the spring 3 and carries the Contact 8 with it during the further opening movement of the main contact 3. Thus, the circuit is broken through the arcing contacts by a movement of both contacts, which furnishes a quick break, and, further, by reason of the fact that the arcing contact 9 is swung sidewise, this acts to bend and break the arc.

The particular device shown in the drawings is for use in lconnection with time controlled switches, the lever being operated to close the switch by a part indicated in dotted lines at 23 which is operated by clock mechanism, orl by a clock controlled motor, this part 23 being withdrawn after the switch has been `moved to closing position. It Vis to be understood however that the improvements are equally applicable to electric switches used in other connections.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main contacts, one at leastof which is movable, and a pairof shunt arcing contacts, one at least of which is supported independently of the main contacts, both of which are simultaneously movable to break the circuit after the breaking of saidmain contacts.

2. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main contacts one at least of which is movable, and a pair` of shunt arcing contacts, ,one at least of which is supported independently of the main contacts, both of which are simultaneously movable to break the circuit after the breaking of said main contacts, one of said arcing contacts being pivoted so as to move on the arc of a 'small circle.

3. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main contacts one at least of which is movable, and a pair of shuntarcing contacts, one of said arcing contacts being connected with a main movable contact and movable thereby to breaking position after the main contacts have broken, the other arcing contact being supported independently of sai'd main contacts, and means for moving the last mentioned arcing contact to breaking position simultaneously with the companion arcing contact.

4. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main contacts, one at least of which is movable, an arcing contact carried by a main movable contact, a second arcing contact supported independently of said main contact having an operative connection with said main movable Contact so as to be simultaneously movable to breaking position with the companion arcing contact, said main movable contact. being capable of a limited movement to break with its companion main Contact prior to causing the breaking of the arcng contact.

5. In a circuit maker and breaker, a main stationary contact, a main movable Contact, an arcing contact carried by said main movable Contact, a second arcing contact mounted independently of said main contacts, together with means for moving the same to and from said irst mentioned arcing contact simultaneously with the movement thereof, said main movable contact being capable of a limited movement relatively to the arcing contact carried thereby.

6. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main contacts, means for moving at least one of said contacts to open position, a pair of shunt arcing contacts, one at least of which is supported independently of said main contacts, both of said shunt arcing contacts being simultaneously movable by said means to break the circuit after the breaking of the main contacts.

7. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main switch members, one at least of which is movable, and a pair of shunt arcing contact members, both of which have a connection with the main movable switch member to be moved simultaneously thereby to open the circuit after the main switch members have broken, the connection between said main movable switch member and one of said shunt arcing members consisting of a rock shaft to which said arcing member is connected, a rocker arm operatively connected with the main movable switch member, and operative connections between said arm and shaft, the connections being such as to allow a limited movement of said arm relatively to said shaft.

8. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main switch members, one at least of which is movable, and a pair of shunt arcing contact members, both of which have a connection with the main movable switch member to be moved simultaneously thereby to open the circuit after the main switch members have broken, the connection between said main movable switch member and one of said shunt arcing members consisting of a rock shaft to which said arcing member is connected, a pinion on said rock shaft, a pivoted gear segment meshing with said pinion, a rocker arm operatively connected with the main movable switch member, and a link connection eccentrically connected with said gear segment and having a connection with said rocker arm such as to permit limited movement of said rocker arm relatively thereto.

9. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pair of main switch members, one of which is movable and the other stationary, a pair of shunt arcing contact members, one of said arcing Contact members havin a connection with the main movable mem er such as to allow said main member to have a limited movement relatively thereto, the other of said arcing Contact members being pivotally mounted to swing on the short arc of a circle with the stationary main Contact member acting as a stop to limit its movement in one direction, a rocker arm having an operative connection with the main movable switch member, and an operative Connection between said arm and said last mentioned arcing contact member constructed to permit said rocker 10 arm to have a limited movement relatively to said arcing member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of May, 1927.

EMIL A. MEYER. 

